National tariff system (Netherlands)

The national tariff system (Dutch: nationaal tariefsysteem or nationale vervoerbewijzen/NVB) is a ticketing and zoning scheme for local public transport in the Netherlands. It was designed as a nationwide scheme but is being phased out (see section on validity, below) and replaced by the OV-chipkaart. The two key elements of ticketing in the system are the strippenkaart (strip card) and the sterabonnement (Star subscription), both of which rely on the zoning element that divides the country up into zones. It does not apply to Dutch Railways (NS), which have their own pricing regime; however there are limited sections of railway (generally in urban areas or on non-NS lines) on which the system is valid.

Validity

The national tariff system applies on most local bus and tram routes, with the exception of special tourist and leisure services, express services, night buses; and buurtbussen, which are neighbourhood services run by volunteers. In addition, it no longer applies in the Amsterdam and Rotterdam regions.

Validity on the railways

The system also applies to the following rail routes:

• Groningen – Roodeschool (Arriva)
• Groningen – Delfzijl (Arriva)
• Groningen – Nieuweschans – Leer [Germany] (Arriva)
• Arnhem – Winterswijk (Syntus)
• Zutphen – Winterswijk (Syntus)
• Zutphen – Oldenzaal (Syntus)
• Zutphen – Apeldoorn (NS)
• Between all stations in The Hague, Rijswijk and Voorburg
• Maastricht Randwyck – Maastricht – Heerlen – Kerkrade (between Heerlen and Kerkrade only on Veolia trains)
• Between all stations in Rotterdam, Capelle a/d IJssel, Schiedam and Vlaardingen
• Utrecht Overvecht – Utrecht Centraal – Utrecht Lunetten

Tickets

Strippenkaart

The Strippenkaart, introduced on 1 October 1980 and abolished on 3 November 2011, was a ticket composed of several strips, to be validated when used. Passengers either validated the ticket themselves in a machine, or got it stamped by the driver or conductor. The number of strips to be cancelled was always the number of zones travelled plus one, up to a maximum of 20 strips. The stamped ticket was valid for hour for 2 to 4 strips, up to to 3.5 hours for 17 to 20 strips.^[1]

Strippenkaart tickets were available in denominations of 2, 3, 8, 15 and 45 strips. Reduced tariff tickets were only available in 15 strip versions. An 8-strip ticket could be used as a one-day ticket in The Hague and Utrecht if especially validated (at the same cost).

Strippenkaart prices (As of 1 January 2011 (2011 -01-01)^[update])

2-strippenkaart	€1.60
3-strippenkaart	€2.40
8-strippenkaart	€6.40
15-strippenkaart	€7.70
15-strippenkaart (reduced rate)	€5.00
45-strippenkaart	€22.80

Local day-ticket Den Haag or Utrecht (one 8-strippenkaart)
€6,40	Local day-ticket Den Haag or Utrecht, reduced rate (four strips of a 8-strippenkaart)
€3,20	Nationwide day-ticket full fare (two 8-strippenkaarten)
€12,80	Nationwide day-ticket reduce fare (one 8-strippenkaart)
€6,40

Strippenkaarten were sold by tobacconists, supermarkets, tourist offices and public transport companies. Only the smaller denomination tickets (up to 8 strips) were available on board, hence the small difference in price between 8 and 15 strip tickets, to encourage pre-purchasing which speeds up boarding times.

The strippenkaart ceased to be valid on 3 November 2011.

Sterabonnement

The Sterabonnement is the season ticket of Dutch local public transport. It is similar to the Strippenkaart in that it is zone dependent, although validity is set at the time of purchase to the number of zones chosen. The Sterabonnement is slightly different from the Strippenkaart as each ticket's validity is dependent on its "star" value (Ster is the Dutch word for star). The table below summarises the Sterabonnement's validity.

Star value	Validity
1-ster	1 selected zone
2-ster	The selected zone + 1 adjacent zone in each direction
3-ster	The selected zone + 2 adjacent zones in each direction
4-ster	The selected zone + 3 adjacent zones in each direction
5-ster	The selected zone + 4 adjacent zones in each direction
6-ster	The selected zone + 5 adjacent zones in each direction
N	All zones in the Netherlands

Zomerzwerfkaart

The Zomerzwerfkaart or "Summer roaming card" is a special ticket only available during June, July and August, which allows the bearer to travel for a whole day in the Netherlands on public transport subject to the National Tariff System. This ticket, however, is not sold by Connexxion, but is nevertheless valid on the company's services.^[2]

OV-chipkaart

Main article: OV-chipkaart

See also

• nl.Wikipedia page about the Strippenkaart (in Dutch)
• nl.Wikipedia page about the OV-Chipkaart (in Dutch)

References

1. ^ (Dutch) [1]
2. ^ (Dutch) [2]

External links

• Information about the Strippenkaart system (in Dutch)
• GVB.nl (Amsterdam Public Transport Authority) page explaining the Sterabonnement system (in English)